Whole ancient wheat kernels with sweet, nutty taste. Chewy when cooked. Use in salads, soups, pilafs.
Substitutes
Farro — 1:1. Farro is the closest ancient grain with nearly identical chewy texture and nutty taste.
Kamut — 1:1. Kamut has similar large chewy grains. Both are ancient wheat varieties with comparable flavor.
Brown Rice — 1:1 by volume (cook brown rice 45 min vs spelt 40-50 min). Brown rice provides spelt berries' chewy, nutty whole-grain character in grain bowls and salads. Per USDA FoodData Central, both offer similar nutritional profiles: spelt has 14.6g protein/100g and brown rice 7.9g/100g, but brown rice is gluten-free while spelt contains gluten. McGee (On Food and Cooking) notes both retain their bran layer, contributing earthy flavors and extended chew. Brown rice is more widely available globally.